The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-09-17

he remembered as he jumped on board
after working the lock gates, just as she
said it, the splash with which one of the
queer-shaped, white and steely fints, dis,
placed by his foot, went into the canal.
The sunny picture his slow fancy had
called up was suddenly followed by the re-
membrance of that other cold drizzline
evening week ago, when it was Nancy
who jumped lightly from the barge to the
path, as they went under the bridge at Sal
ford. John sat up suddenly, and for a
moment felt sick and cold as he heard again
the splash and quick little frightened cry
with which Nancy disappeared In the water,
black in the thick shadow of that hideous
arch. She had taken the jump scores of
times, but this time she Just missed the
bricked edge of the path, and before her
father, who was at the helm, could get at
her, she went under,
John, who was several yards ahead with
the horse, saw her rise again between the
slowly approaching barge and the brick
path, to which she clung; but before he
could reach her and draw her out of the
water, spasm of anguish on the girls pale
face, and one long choked scream told him
that the great numbering barge had passed
just one inch too near the edge, and had
crushed, as it passed, the slight form.
''0h, good God p muttered John, and
drew in his breath sharply through his
teethj even now it was all over and Nancy
getting better, he couldn't think Of 1t with
out shuddering.
How he dived under the barge and drew
out the now inanimate little body aud lifted
it to the many hands stretched out on the
path; how he and her father, white and
shaking with horror, took their silent, life
less burden to Gartside street, he did not
clearly reMember:
He remembered the policemanS face
clearly A pale face, showing blue where
the ehln was shaved; and he remembered.
too, that Naucy's curls dripped onto the
back of his hand in the ambulance carriage,
as she lay, wrapped in blankets, across her
fathers knee But after his own plunge
into the water everything seemed confused.
and the things done and said were like the
unreal acts and words of horrible dream,
"But she's all right now" said John to
himself, Hand when she's Mrs, John Thrupp
she shan't run no more risks" and he gave
himself shake to pull himself together
before he got off the tram when it stopped
on the white road below the hospital,
He Joined the group of mothers and
fathers apd friends, each with their bundles
of clothes, eggs and flowers for the patients,
going in twos aud threes up the slope.
Some, as he had done last week, were going
for the first time, and looked about them
curiously; but our bargee strobe on quickly,
smelling the huge bunch of stocks and wall
flowers and mig9e4ette he was taking
Nancy. He knew his way, and nodded to
the man at the lodge as if he were an old
| friend
1t was the same blue-and-white nurse on
duty as porteress, and John came in bFiskly
out of the sunshine into the cool gray cor
ridor, and took off his cap with quite gal
liant smile, as he said, before the nurse spoke
/ this time:
''To see Nancy Battsen, and quite proud
of his knowledge, added, sin Hayward
Special, amt it? Only myself, please,
Miss
The nurse said "Yes, and added "Qh
MIR. Hattsepe"
"John Thrupp," said John, smiling still.
"0h, yes" said the nurse, "Mr. Thrupp,
wait moment, please"
John stood on one side, wondering what
she wanted with him, and watched her send
cabman and his wife, who asked for
"Johnny Mahoney-a baby, to "North
Ward" John wondered idly what was the
matter with "Johnny Marney," as the anx-
ious parents called it.
When they turned and went off to the
right John looked after them, and did not
notice the momentarY hesitation and glance
of pity the little blue-and-white nurse cast
on him as she laid her book on the bench
and got up and said:
"Will you come this way, Mr.. Thrupp ?"
elias she been moved out Of there ?"
said John, following, as they came opposite
the Hayward doors,
"The doctor wants to speak to you"
replied the nurse, without answering him,
and opened the door of the room into
which the doctor had taken him last time.
The doctor was sitting the other side of
square, green leather table, and looked up
absently from his writing; and then, as
John said cheerily: "Good-day Sir" he
seemed suddenly to recognize the young
fellow. A worried look came into his
face, and he said:
s'0h, it's you wait moment" and get
ting up quickly, he followed the nurse out
of the room, turning to add as he closed
the door; SSit down, I'll be back in a
moment"
John sat down little puzzled, but not
a shade of anxiety or fear that his Nancy
was worse crossed his mind. He had made
up his mind she was nearly well by now,
and pictured her sitting up now perhaps in
long arm chair he had seen in the Special.
The door opened again, and the doctor
came in, looking very grave indeed; and,
shutting the door, stood with his back to
it, and said:
"Mr. Thrupp, l am very much distress
ed to find you have not had the message
sent to Gartside-street last night, quite
thought you had it"
"What message, Sir?" said John, sud
denly frightened at the doctors grave tone.
II didn't think to go and ask for no mes
sage-she was getting better. She amt
no worse, is she, Sir? She amt bad agen,
is she, doctor?"
"My poor fellow" said the doctor, his
own face paling a little, II wish you had
gone to inquire, She got much worse
yesterday afternoon. Before we wired she
tried to sit up, poor child, and hemorrhage,
internal hemorrhage, set in."
And he hesitated again and looked pity
ingly at poor John; and again went on
hurriedly:
ave thought you'd get the wire and be
prepared. She sank rapidly. There was
no pain, but we could do nothing She
died about midnight"
John sat on very still, with his cap in
hands, between his knees, staring at the
doctor, who laid his hand tenderly on his
shoulder, and was saying something else,
but he didn't hear what. The whole room,
H. ,rbo1o xyorid caarnad throhhinnr With